“Two actually. They want us there a week early. We’ll start learning lines immediately, but the week before we’ll get familiar with the location, getting to know each other and practicing lines, that kind of thing.”
“That makes sense.” But his voice said he didn’t think much about her world made sense. Even if he could forget his promise to his brother could he support her career? She’d support his honorable career even though it would be horrific to be so far away from him.
The plane stopped and they quietly disembarked, thanking the pilot. Birch carried both of their bags and she smiled remembering how the first time he’d done that two and a half weeks ago she’d been ticked at him.
A car waited for them and Birch asked her. “Do you want to go straight to your agent’s office or home first?”
“I’d better go home.” She gestured to herself. “I’m kind of a mess.”
He smiled and said, “You look beautiful to me.”
“Thank you.” Allison liked that he didn’t care if she was glammed up or natural.
They loaded into the car and she gave the driver her address. The ride to her apartment was quiet. When they got there, Birch asked the driver to wait please and then carried her bag to her door. She typed in the code and Birch set the bag inside.
Turning to him, she squinted in the bright morning sun. “I’ll see you soon?” she asked, not sure why this felt like goodbye.
“For sure,” he promised. “I’m going to meet with Detective Jones and then I could meet you back here or pick you up for lunch, dinner, walk on the beach, surfing, a bike ride, a moonlit cruise over to Catalina … What would you prefer?”
She wrapped her arms around his lower back, grateful her shoulder seemed almost back to normal. “All of the above, please.” She laid her head in the crook of his neck and admitted, “I don’t want to be without you.”
He kissed her forehead tenderly. “We’ll make the most of the next two weeks then.”
“And then …?” She looked up at him.
“Maybe I’ll follow you to Kauai, stalk the movie set.”
She smiled. “We can pretend I’m super famous and you’re my bodyguard.”
“I like it.” He grinned and gave her a tender kiss. “I’ll see you soon.” Releasing her he backed away and lifted a hand.
Allison watched him go until he disappeared into the car again. Why was there such a dismal feeling of finality in seeing him go? All of this was straight out of a movie script, and despite what Birch might think about her, she knew Hollywood and real life existed in two different universes.
She was falling hard for him and suddenly she knew … there were so many obstacles stacked against them it would be a miracle if their fragile relationship survived.